TNT PICKS UP NO. 6
Before taking a welcome seven-day break, Talk n Text drubbed Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 94-87, to end a tough six-game grind in 18 days with a perfect slate.
The Tropang Texters churned out yet another solid showing on both ends, rolling past the Kings and thus closing in on a Top Two finish in the PLDT Home TVolution PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round.
“We have seven days off coming, and I’m so happy to take a break with all these victories,” said Talk n Text coach Norman Black.
At 6-0, the Tropang Texters are assured of at least a spot in the best-of-three quarterfinals. Two more wins can well guarantee the team of a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Eight.
Ranidel de Ocampo tossed in 28 points while Richard Howell came through with 23 rebounds and 19 markers leading the Texters to the decisive win over the on-and-off Ginebra side.
But as in their previous wins, Black firmly believed defense was the big key.
“The team played good defense. We executed what we wanted to do which was to get the ball out of the hands of LA (Tenorio) and (Mark) Caguioa,” said Black.
“They did make a lot of shots, but we held them enough to win,” Black added.
The Texters had their best defensive effort in the second quarter, holding the Kings to 14 to take the half at 52-40.
Then they stretched their lead to 16 points twice early in the fourth before fending off Ginebra’s chase at the finish.
Ginebra went down to joint fifth with the Air21 Express and the Alaska Aces at 2-3.
As the Kings closed in at 85-89, Larry Fonacier knocked in a trey, and then De Ocampo scored on a breakaway layup to ease the pressure.
Helping the Texters was a big break where the refs awarded a Ryan Reyes loose ball to the Talk n Text side.
“Breaks of the game, and it happens like that. It’s just one call, and we’ve been on the other side many times this conference,” said Black.
De Ocampo spiked his 23-point showing with 4-of-7 three-pointers with Reyes, Fonacier and Jimmy Alapag adding six treys together.
Jayson Castro and Reyes finished with 11 points apiece while Fonacier wound up with 10.
Leon Rodgers paced the losing team with 32 markers and 11 boards. (SB)
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